JOHN F. FLOYD: Kokomo shows its resilience with response to storms

Friday

Nov 29, 2013 at 5:31 PMNov 29, 2013 at 5:32 PM

I live in a great community and town, Kokomo, Ind. That greatness manifested itself Nov. 17.

By John F. FloydSpecial to The Times

I live in a great community and town, Kokomo, Ind. That greatness manifested itself Nov. 17.I was in Wilmington, Del., preparing for an early morning flight from Philadelphia back to the Indianapolis airport. It was just a normal day with no hint of the coming events.To say the airplane ride back to Indianapolis was a little bumpy is an understatement. The plane never hit smooth air; it felt like someone was striking it with a giant hammer. The pilot apologized for the bumpiness, but there was nothing he could do to minimize the harsh ride. He told us we were getting in ahead of the rain, but he never mentioned anything concerning extraordinary weather in Indiana.I collected my car from parking and headed toward Kokomo. My radio was tuned to a station that played music, so there were no weather forecasts. There was a cloud cover, but nothing threatening. The journey was uneventful and I stopped at the mailbox at my home to pick up my newspapers and mail. I sat down to read my mail and never thought about turning on the television. About 10 minutes later, there was a sudden change in the weather conditions. My family room is like an isthmus from the main house and is glass on three sides. For about three minutes I witnessed one of the most terrifying scenes imaginable. The wind and rain became horizontal with a speed that is indescribable. I was mesmerized — transfixed — for several minutes. When I finally came to my senses, realization set in and I turned on the television. It was off the air because of the weather. My radio was next and the broadcasts gave me the first inkling of the weather situation and the destruction that had emanated from a series of storms in the Kokomo area. I had just witnessed the power and fury of the storm, up close and personal. I instinctively knew things were bad somewhere in Kokomo.Authorities had urged those without any reason to be out to stay home and let the emergency response crews do their urgent work. I adhered to the authorities’ request and waited until Monday to venture toward Kokomo. What I witnessed will forever be engrained in my memory.U.S. Highway 31, somewhat like Rainbow Drive in Gadsden, was as far as I got. The sound of backhoes, chain saws, tractors, front end loaders and all types of machines used for removal and repair filled the air. The sound was of a proud neighborhood and city already going about the business of removal and restoration. No “poor me” utterances, no waiting for federal help, and especially no reservations about rolling up one’s sleeves and going to work. The recovery already had begun.An example of the devastation was Erick’s Chevrolet on Highway 31. The car dealership had suffered a major blow to its buildings and fleet of cars. It seemed every car on the premises suffered heavy damage. The used car office was destroyed and the interior of the main show floor was in shambles. The giant flagpole was on the ground, but not the American flag that was the overseer of the premises. Someone had rescued the flag and it was proudly flying on the back of a damaged pickup truck. And then I witnessed a remarkable sight. All of Erick’s employees were engaged in the rebirth of the dealership. Mechanics were removing damaged cement blocks, salesmen were engaged in inside tasks and damage assessment, and customers had dropped in to see if they could be of any assistance. This scene just happened to be at Erick’s Chevrolet, but it was indicative of any home or business in Kokomo that felt the fury of the storms. Affected people may have had their moments, but those reflective moments were minimized and recovery was the name of the game. In a twisted sense, Kokomo had come alive.I found friends helping friends, neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping strangers and an overall sharing of grief while getting on with the task at hand. City work crews, under the steady guiding hand of city government and Mayor Greg Goodnight; county work crews, sharing in the vital restoration of county infrastructure; emergency responders, professionally carrying out their duties in the face of an indomitable task — all residents of Kokomo and Howard County responded to this natural disaster of monumental proportions.There are many stories of extraordinary caring in the Kokomo community, such as the person who took his dog to the animal hospital, Four Hounds. The hospital’s personnel told the person that rates were cut in half because Kokomo was experiencing a disaster. This is a small example of a caring community.There has been little mention of the help from surrounding counties and cities, but I am personally aware of the city of Westfield sending trucks to help with debris collection and disposal.Now to the most remarkable part of the Kokomo disaster. Sunday normally is a day for church, dinners, looking at a little football and relaxing with family. That Sunday will be remembered as the “miracle Sunday,” because people were in their homes and not in the businesses that were struck by the devil winds. If the storms had struck on a workday, the loss of life would be maximized. The fact there was no loss of life is the miracle. Only 14 people required transportation to the hospital and only three were admitted.My mother always told me never to cry over a broken object, because it could be repaired or replaced. Save the crying for a lost life, because death is eternal and the relationship is gone forever. There are many broken objects in Kokomo, but let us all remember my mother’s words of wisdom. Kokomo lost no precious lives, for that we are eternally grateful. Kokomo is a great city and community, and is great example for all cities in the United States.

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